Interview with Newark Heavyweight Aaron “The Animal” Kinch as he prepares for November 10th bout

By Lou McLaughlin: As New Jersey recovers from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, Newark heavyweight Aaron “The Animal” Kinch was generous to give me time for an interview. Aaron is in the midst of preparing for his next bout November 10 at the River Edge in Reading, Pennsylvania. Kinch winner of 3 (KO 1) + lost 0 (KO 0) + drawn 1 will be facing Randy Easton of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. After a sterling amateur career Kinch at the age of 30 decided to go pro. Although it is a late start Kinch has been fast tracking as November 10th will be his fourth fight in 2012. I have attended two of Aaron’s fights and seen him spar at the Elite Heat Boxing Gym of Newark. His style is reminiscent of James Toney. He has cute defensive moves and is deceptively fast. He is trained by John Thompson III a.k.a. “Brother Ya Ya”. Thompson also trains his son John Thompson IV a Newark Light Middleweight

Q- Aaron who or what got you into boxing?
A-One day at work a trainer walked in. He was from the army he was a leg amputee. So I was talking to him trying to help him out and he told me that he trained boxers and that I should come by the gym and watch. The first day I saw some guy in the ring a little scrawny guy and I as like “I can take him out I don’t need to train”. Well, he beat my ass. So I wanted to learn what he had learned.

Q-What can you tell me about your amateur career?
A-I started around three years ago when I was around 29. I won the Golden Gloves twice, The Diamond Gloves twice and the New Jersey State tournament, I’ve been to the Nationals twice, I went to the semifinals in Arkansas. In the amateurs it is more like a sports issue thing not a fight thing to see who is a better man and try to hurt somebody

Q-BoxingRec.com has you listed as 33 years old. In the sport of boxing some people would say 33 is considered late to be making your start in the pros. What are your thoughts?
A-Other people can certainly think that. But two things. First is how you take care of yourself and train. The other thing is what you want in your heart. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. You know I love to fight and I’ve always fought. It gives me something to prove people wrong. I mean you got the heavyweight champ now Klitschko who is 41. So I don’t think it is a big issue. I’m the kind of person who if someone tells me that I can’t do something then that’s what I want to do. So when I’ve heard about age a couple of times it just makes me want it more. And I haven’t been beat up much because I started late. So I’m still young in boxing years. Age is not even in my thought process as far as I’m concerned I’m still 16.

Q-Are you originally, from Newark? How did you get connected with Vito and the Elite Heat Boxing Gym?
A-I train in Newark. I lived in Newark for a few years. I’m from Linden, New Jersey. The original gym that I trained at for about six years was in Newark. Through most of my amateur career I was at the Aspira Boxing Club in Newark. But the gym wasn’t pushing much for boxers. It was more or less a place for kids to come and hang. Then I decided I did want to turn pro and get better. I was at a fight and I was talking to Rob Griffin one of the trainers at Elite Heat. He invited me there and when I saw the facilities they have, the atmosphere, it was more like a boxing gym. Not a place where boxing is a hobby

Q-Who is your trainer?
Right now my trainer is John (Brother Ya Ya) Thompson III

Q-Can you tell me anything about your training routine?
A-I’ve been athletic my whole life. My warm-up is most people’s workout. I start my warm-up with 6 to 8 rounds of shadow boxing. Then I do six rounds on the heavy bags. Another 7-8 rounds on the speed bag, then around 6 rounds on the uppercut bag. Then 300 pushups, 300 sit-ups. Every other day work on stomach, abs, and core. Run at least 4 times a week 4 or 5 miles. Work a lot of cardio. My biggest thing is people try to work out and look the part and be muscular cut. I call that ‘fashion show”. I’m not trying to look the part I want to be the part. So I work on my boxing talent and my cardio. I work about 6 or 7 rounds with Brother Ya Ya on just pads working on the jab and moving around the ring. I try to perfect my craft. It’s not just a sport it’s an art form

Q- I attended your last two fights. The one at Nutley High School New Jersey and the last one at Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey. Stylistically you remind of James Toney. He’s another big guy who is deceptively quick and nimble for his size. I observed you using some shoulder rolls and other techniques to smother punches. Comment on what I saw
A-That’s one thing I have worked on is my boxing. Some people have said I’m slow and plodding but that is not the case. I actually do watch James Toney how he moves his head and body a lot and puts himself in position to avoid shots. Also I try to “out quick” people. If someone thinks that they’re quicker then me I let them get in their comfort zone. And then “outquick” them. I’m small height wise so most of the people I fight are a lot taller than me. I use my quickness and agility to get inside and just work the body I am a brawler I like to fight but I’m developing my boxing techniques so that I have both sides covered and no matter what I run into in the ring I’m ready for it.

Q-Are there any fighters out there that you admire and whose style you’d like to adapt?
A-Fighters now-not so much. My favorite fighter ever was Mike Tyson. He had raw power and savagery. I kind of model myself after that. We’re about the same height. I bring the same type of power into the ring you know basically hurt people and make them quit. A lot of times when fighting after I hit them a few times. I can see a look in their eyes that they don’t want to be in there with me. I’m also a big Bernard Hopkins fan and James Toney. I just want to see somebody who is more exciting in the ring then The Twin Towers (Klitscko brothers)

Q-What are your ultimate desires from the sport? You are naturally a big guy so you are buttonholed into the heavyweight division. The never will be campaigning in a different weight class. So what kind of mark do you hope to make in the heavyweight division.
A-I just want to bring exciting boxing back. Every time I fight I put my heart and soul into it I take chances. Unfortunately my coach hates this but I like to eat a punch as much as I like delivering a punch. I want to make it exciting to see me fight and make you want to come and see my next fight. I like hearing the cheers and screaming and yelling as I have done when watching boxing. I want to bring excitement back into the ring like we had in the early 90’s. I want the excitement in the ring of people wondering what is going to happen next as opposed to mandatory challengers just taking a fight to get a couple of dollar. That is what is spoiling our sport.

Q- Of your fights which gave you the most satisfaction and which gave you the least?
A-The least satisfying fight was the fight I had in Nutley (Aaron won a TKO over Donnie Crawford at 1:39 of the third) I fought someone who I thought would be an easy fight. He was my height and he came to fight he was very game. He was a little out matched with me I want to be in with somebody that I’m not sure I can beat. My most fulfilling fight was my first fight. It was in Huntington, New York against Jacques Louis. He was 2-0 and undefeated. Everyone was saying I shouldn’t have taken the fight as my pro debut. But my attitude was that I think I can beat anybody. It might not be true in all circumstances. I went in there and in front of his home crowd and pulled out a tough decision.

Q-Finally, open mike-anything that you want to say to your family friends, and fans.
A-Yes, when I get in that ring I think about all of the people that support me that I’m going to do this. That is what I fight for. Even if a situation is a little rough or I’m a little tired. I want to show my trainers and family that I am a man who will stand behind his word and bring back excitement to boxing

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